Device for recording messages on punched tapes

ABSTRACT

A device for punching paper tape. Messages are divided into two groups, one being indicative of constant circumstances and the other being indicative of varying circumstances, and are punched onto paper tape by means of preset coding discs.

United States Patent 1 13,565,332

[72] Inventors Willi Kirchner [51] Int. Cl G06k 1/00 Schwebheim; [50] Field of Search 234/38, 39, Gunter Lampert, Schweinfurt, Germany 4245, 100, 113, 128; 346/35, 50, 61, 94

[21] App]. No. 804,090

[22] Filed Mar. 4, 1969 References Cited [45] Patented Feb. 23, 1971 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 Assignee Kuseliflsher Georg Schafer & 2,839,173 6/1958 Loew et a1. 346/50X Schwemfufl, Germany 3,029,120 4/1962 Bud 346/50 [32] Priority Mar. 22, 1968 [33] Germany Przmary Exammer-Wflham Lawson {31] p 17 74 030 6 Att0rneyStevens, Davis, M1l1er & Mosher [54] DEVICE FOR RECORDING MESSAGES ON PUNCHED TAPES 8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 234/38, 234/45, 234/100, 234/128 ABSTRACT: A device for punching paper tape. Messages are divided into two groups, one being indicative of constant circumstances and the other being indicative of varying circumstances, and are punched onto paper tape by means of preset coding discs.

IPATENTEUFEBEBIQYI 8.565.332

SHEET 1 UP 2 DEVICE FOR RECORDING MESSAGES N PUNCHED TAPES The present invention relates to a device for recording messages on punched tapes, the punching of which is effected by code discs.

In order to check the course of an operation subsequent to its completion, it is necessary to record a sequence of messages, each of which characterizes a given phase of the operation. if this recording is to be effected by an automatic device, for instance a recorder or a tape puncher, the messages must be present in the form of special signals which can actuate the recording apparatus. For this purpose, all events and conditions of interest must be converted into such signals during the course of the operation. If these messages are not recorded continuously, but rather at set intervals, or steps, one will not obtain direct information with regard to the events occuring within the time intervals between the individual steps. Time scanning is, however, desirable in the case of automatically operating apparatus since in this way many processes may be readily synchronized, for example by means of a program shaft or an electronic synchronized pulse generator. In the case of a stepwise recording in order to take into consideration the occurrences transpiring between the individual beats, one can combine the occurrences which take place during this interval to form a result and reproduce this result as a message at the end of the interval. However, such a message is only meaningful if it is supplemented by indications concerning the external circumstances under which the occurrences take place. These indications characterize, for instance, the place, the time, and possibly the reason for the occurrences, and cannot be combined as the result of a time interval. When these circumstances can be foreseen or change only rarely, the signals characterizing them can be stored permanently in a recording apparatus in which connec tion it is sufficient to deliver them at the end of each beat together with the message as to the result of the occurrences.

The present invention consists of particular technical measures for subdividing a message into two groups, the first group consisting of indications with regard to varying occurrences and the second consisting of indications concerning constant circumstances or ones which change only rarely. In an apparatus for recording messages on punched tape, the punching of which is effected by coding discs, the above-noted subdivision is effected in accordance with, the present invention by an association of the types of messages with two systems of discs acting on the punched tape. Replaceable messages of fixed coding are punched by one system and continuous messages are punched by the other system, this being accomplished by means of two alternately operated counters. This arrangement has the, advantage that the coding mechanism can easily be adaptedto the limited number of messages possible in a special field. Thus by the reduction of the technical expenditure, a message recording on punched tape is possible even where it previously was not feasible for reasons of economy. This may be explained by an example of the control of the course of production in a manufacturing operation.

In order to be able to draw conclusions at any time with regard to the capacity of a plant and the status of manufacture, and in order to be able to carry out the required costs and wage calculations, dependable information must be available with regard to the work time and the work speed of personnel and machines and the number of finished parts. Today, it is customary to collect this information at the end of each workday in handwritten reports drawn up on special forms which give information with regard to the work performed and the work time lost because of disturbances. In order to automate this process, there are often used time-quantity recorders which are placed on the processing machines. A recorder of this type consists of a circular chart which makes one complete revolution in one shift, and a pen arranged above the chart which, in each case, after the completion of a workpiece, records a radial mark on the chart. The message reproduced on the circular chart and which contains, in the form of dashlines, information concerning the number of pieces produced and machine standstill times, is further supplemented by manual entries such as the time clock card number of the operator, order number, date, type of processing and the reasons for standstill times.

The messages on the chart, or on the work reports are evaluated at relatively long time intervals, for instance each week or month, together with the time which is stamped on the time card of the worker. Since this evaluation is effected in most cases by an electronic data-processing system, the messages must first be transferred to suitable data carriers, for instance punched tapes, for which complicated apparatus and trained personnel are required; The long, costly path from obtaining the messages to the feeding thereof into a data processing system can be saved if all the required information is passed automatically from the p cessing machine to a punched tape.

This can be effected an economical manner if the arrangement serving for is purpose can be adapted to the character of the messages to be recorded, as is true of the apparatus in accordance with the present invention. Thus, for the monitoring of a machine tool, several messages, for example, the stock number of the machine, remain constant, while other messages, such as clock number of the operator, date, order number, etc., change at longer or shorter intervals. Again, other messagesi for instance, the number of parts machined and the unitmachining time, change constantly. However, in cases wherein certain information is repeated frequently, the traditional universal tape punchers which are designed to receive any desired message are too expensive. As a result of the consequeri t redundance in the conversion, such a system is uneconomical. Furthermore, the known punching devices are too sensitiveand too difficult to handle for rough workshop operations. For these reasons, automatic message recording directly on the machine has heretofore not yet been effected.

In the case of the apparatus in accordance with the present invention, the messages: with. regard to characterizing the machine, the workpieces, and the personnel, for instance, can be coded as circumstances of the course of the operation on the first system of discs, while the second disc system records the number of finished workpieces produced as counter result. In one embodiment, the different disc systems are arranged on different sides of the punched tape. In this way it is possible to punch, simultaneously, different messages on the punched tape in such a manner that the two combinations of punch holes lie closely alongside each other on the tape.

It has been found favo able for the first disc system to consist of a rotatably supported selector disc with plates displaceable on its peripheral surface, the plates being provided with fixed pins or boreloles. If the device is installed on a machine tool, one plate could contain, in a given combination of holes or pins, information such as that concerning the operator, while another plate could contain information such as that regarding the order number and the designation of the workpiece. The plates, which in each case have a fixed profile, can be placed over the selector disc at the start of each shift. In this way, errors which can occur, for instance, by improper adjustment of movable pins, are completely eliminated. The embodiment described isparticularly suitable for manufacturing operations due to its robustness and its low degree of sensitivity to dirt. Further details and advantages of the invention will be explained below with reference to an example shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic front view of an embodiment of the device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows the device of FIG. 1, partially in section, along the line AB; and

FIG. 3 shows the cooperation of the device with a program shaft and a processing machine.

With reference to FlG.f 1, a supply roll 2 houses a supply of paper tape 3 and is rotatably supported on a base plate I. The

paper tape 3 is fastened, via guide rolls 4 and 6, to a takeup drum 7. The takeup drum 7 is rotatably supported on the base plate 3 and is driven by an electric motor 70 associated with a belt 7b and a slip clutch 7c. The takeup drum has a plurality of axially extending pins 8 around which the paper tape is wound. The paper tape 3 is clamped to a pin 3:: against which a leaf spring 9 presses. A transport bail'll is swingably supported on a bolt 10 which, in turn, is rigidly connected to the base plate 1. This bail is pulled, by a spring 12, against the piston 13 of a pneumatic cylinder 14. When the piston 13 is acted upon by compressed air, the transport bail 11 is swung around the bolt 10 by an amount which corresponds to the stroke of he piston 13. The front end 15 of the transport bail 11 surrounds the paper tape 3 and has therein a borehole 16 which is perpendicular to the surface of the paper tape 3, the

' piston 17 being guided in said borehole. When the piston 17 is acted upon by compressed air, the paper tape 3 is clamped to the transport bail 11 so that it is carried along upon the swinging of the transport bail 11. Numerous punch pins 18 are arranged in a punch block 5 on both sides of the paper tape 3, said pins serving to punch the holes in the paper tape 3. When using eight-track punched tapes, a total of nine punch pins are required in each line (transverse to the direction of the advance of the paper tape), namely '8 punch pins '18 for the punching of the information, and one punch pin 19 (see FIG. 2) for the punching of the transport hole. The punch block 5 shown schematically in H6. 1, therefore, contains 11 times 8 punch pins 18 (11 lines) and ll punch pins 19. The punch pins 18 and 19 are actuated by a selector disc 20 and counter discs 21 and 22.

The selector disc 20 is rotatably supported on a carriage 23. By means of ball notches 24-, the disc 20 can be positioned, by hand, in exact angular steps. The axis of the selector disc 20 is parallel to the surface of the paper tape 3 and is perpendicular to the edge of the latter. The carriage 23 is guided on the base plate 1 and moves perpendicular to the surface of the paper. The selector disc 20 is developed as a polygon on its outer surface, there being arranged on the individual surfaces, groups of pins 25 which in given combination represent those messages which it is desired to introduced into the paper tape 3. As a code, the binary coded decimal system is well suited to the present invention. Messages which do not change in the course of time, such as, for example, the stock number of a machine or certain constantly recurring grounds of disturbance, are represented by groups of pins 25 fastened permanently to the selector disc 20, while messages which change more frequently, such as, for instance, the clock card number of the operator, order number, date, etc., are arranged on a replaceable code profile carrier 26. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the replaceable carrier 26 consists of a rectangular plate having a dovetail guide 27. While it is intended that all the polygon surfaces be provided with profiles, only a single replaceable carrier 26 has been shown in the drawing.

The carriage 23 which bears the selector disc 20 is pulled, by a spring 28 (FIG. 2), against the piston 29 of a pneumatic cylinder 30. When the piston 29 is acted upon by compressed air, the carriage 23 moves towards the punch block 5 and, by means of the pin groups 25 and the punch pins 18 and 19, effects the punching of a combination of holes corresponding to the desired message. After completion of the punching, the spring 28 effects the return of the carriage 23. Of course, the punch pins 18 and 19 must also be returned; however, since this return takes place in a manner which is well known, it has not been shown.

Opposite the selector disc 20 on the opposite side of the paper tape 3 there is a carriage 31 which is guided on the base plate I and can be displaced perpendicular to the surface of the paper tape 3. A spring 32 pulls the carriage 31 against the piston 33 of a pneumatic cylinder 34. On the carriage 31 there is arranged a sleeve 35 which moves in translation but is secured against rotation. The translation of sleeve 35 takes place parallel to the surface of the paper tape 3 and perpendicular to its edge, the sleeve 35 being pressed, by the action of a spring 36, against the piston 37 of a pneumatic cylinder 38. in the sleeve 35 there is rotatably supported a counter 22 and within this counter there is another counter 21 which is also rotatable. The two counters are not displaceable axially in the sleeve 35 or with respect to each other. The common axis of the two counters lies parallel to the surface of the paper tape 3 and is perpendicular to its edge. The outer surface 39 of the counter disc 40 of the counter 21 is developed as a polygon, pin combinations which reproduce the numbers starting from zero in binary coded decimal system being arranged on each individual surface. in FIGS. 1 and 2 only a single pin combination 4! has been shown which is just opposite the punch pins 18 in the punch block 5. On the rear end 42 of the counter 21 there is arranged a flange 43 the outer surface of which is provided with sawteeth 44. The number of sawteeth 44 agrees with the number of pin combinations on the outer surface 39 of the counter disc all). The piston 45 of a pneumatic cylinder 46, which is fastened to the sleeve 35, engages the sawteeth 44 by means of a pawl 47. When the piston 45 is acted upon by compressed air, the counter 21 is stepped forward one sawtooth. Of course, locking pawls and devices for rezeroing the counter are also required; however, since such means are generally well known, they have not been shown.

The action of the compressed air on the piston 45 is brought about by a transmitter which is arranged on the processing machine with which the device of the invention cooperates. The counter 22 is of exactly the same construction as the counter 21; and, therefore, its switch mechanism has not been shown.

If the piston 33 of the pneumatic cylinder 34 is acted upon by compressed air, the carriage 31, with its two associated counters 21 and 22, moves towards' the punch block 5 and, via the pin combination corresponding to the instantaneous condition of the counter and the punch pins 18, effects the punching of the paper tape 3. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the pin combination is shown at 41.

During the punching operation, the counter must not receive any counting pulses. Nevertheless, to make certain that no counting pulses are lost, two counters 21 and 22 are provided. While the counter 21 is in its punching position and is punching, the counting pulses are fed to the counter 22. Thereupon, by releasing the compressed air from the cylinder 38, the counter 22 is brought, by the spring 36, into punching position. Now, the counting pulses are transferred to the counter 21 so that the counter 22 is at rest and the punching can be effected. After the punching has been performed, the counter 22 is returned to zero. Now, the counter 21 is again brought into punching position, and the counting pulses are transferred to the counter 22 so that the counter 21 can carry out the punching. After the punching, the counter 21 is again returned to zero and the processes described are repeated. Naturally, these processes, such as punching, transferring of pulses, displacing the counters and returning to zero, are not effected by hand, but by a transmitter shaft.

The cooperation of the device with this program shaft and with the monitored processing machine is shown schematically without structuraldetails in FIG. 3. On the machine 48, for instance a press, there is arranged a transmitter 49 which counts the strokes of a plunger 50. In the illustrated case, the transmitter is a pneumatic three-way valve. The pulses of the transmitter are fed to the counter 21 or to the counter 22. All other functions of the device, in accordance with the present invention, are controlled by a program shaft 51. The program shaft 51 is driven by a synchronous motor 52 and rotates, for example, ata rate of one revolution per each 20 seconds. The program shaft is shown in the manner of a block diagram since it is of generally known construction. The signals of the program shaft 51 are transmitted by lines 53, also shown schematically.

In detail, the program shaft controls the following functions of the device during its first rotational cycle, in the order indicated:

l. Clamping the paper tape 3 by actuation of the piston 17;

2. Activating the electric motor 7a for the driving of the takeup drum 7 via the slip clutch 70;

3. Transporting the paper tape 3 a given length by actuation of the piston 13 in the cylinder 14;

4. Disconnecting the electric motor- 70 for the driving of the takeup drum;

5. Loosening the clamping of the paper tape 3 by venting 10. Punching the punch combination which corresponds to the status of the counter 22 by the actuation of the piston 33; and punching the punch combination which corresponds to the position of the selector disc 20 by the actuation of the piston 29; and v ll. Returning the counters 22 and 21 by venting the cylinder 34 and returning the selector disc 20 by venting the cylinder 30. Y

Upon the second rotation of the program shaft, the functions 1 through 6 and ll are unchanged; however, differences result for functions 7 through 10, these functions relating to the counters. The functions during the second cycle (concentrating only on 7 through are as-follows:

7. Returning the counter 22 to zero;

8. Displacing the counters 21 and 22 by venting the cylinder 38 until the counter 21 is in its punching position;

9. Shifting the counting pulses from counter 21 to counter 22; and

10. Punching the punch combination which corresponds to the status of the counter 21; and punching the punch combination which corresponds to the position of the selector disc by actuation of the piston 29.

Cycle 2 is then followed by Cycle 1, and so on.

In operation, the device of the present invention functions as follows. At the start of the operating period (shift), the paper tape 3 is introduced by the operator into the punch block 5 and is clamped on the pin- 80 of the takeup drum 7. Then, all replaceable code profile carriers are inserted onto the selector disc 20. These are items such as the time card number of the operator, the order number and the date. Now, the selector disc is turned manually or automatically until the fust replaceable carrier is in punch position and the program shaft is connected. in this way, the two cycles 1 and 2 occur as outlined above. After the punching has been effected, the next replaceable code profile carrier is brought into punch position, am, until finally all messages contained on the replaceable carriers have been punched into the paper tape. There is then brought into punch position that pin combination rigidly connected with the selector disc which represents the information machine operating. Thereupon the processing machine is connected and the production starts. From this point on, the number of piecesproduced and the operating condition machine operating" are punched into the paper tape 3 in the cycle'established by the program shaft, for instance, every 20 seconds. lf disturbances occur in the operating machine, that pin combination which characterizes the disturbance is brought into punch position, the program shaft continues to operate uniformly-At the end of the operating period (shift), the paper tape 3 is removed and can be immediately introduced into an electronic data-processing system in order to determine the work wage and obtain statistical data with regard to standstill times and reasons for disturbance of the processing machine.

While the present invention has been described with particular reference to a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many alterations and modifications can be perfected without departing from the spirit and scope of the in v ention. It is therefore the intent-that the scope of the inventron not be limited to the above, but only as it is recited ll'l th appended claims.

We claim: v

1. An apparatus for the recording of messages on punched tape, and comprising: a first coding disc system for punching said tape with information which is likely to change at certain intervals of time; a second coding disc system for punching said tape with information which is of the repetitive nature; a first driven counter controlling said second coding disc system; and a second driven counter controlling said second coding disc system, said second counter being driven alternately with said first counter.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first coding disc system is provided with means for periodically changing the message to be punched on said tape.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 and characterized by the fact that said first and said second disc systems are arranged on opposite sides of the punched tape.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 and further comprising punch pins which can be actedon by the said coding discs, said punch pins being located on both sides of the punched tape.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 and characterized by the fact that the first disc system consists of a rotatably supported selector disc having plates which can be placed on its periphery, the plates being provided with fixed pins or bore holes.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 and characterized by the fact that the second disc system consists of two counter discs which are rotatably supported on a common shaft and the peripheral surfaces of which are coded with continuous numbers by pins or boreholes.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 and characterized by the fact that the axes of the said discs are parallel to each other and to the surface of the punched tape and are perpendicular to the side edge of the punched tape.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 and characterized by the fact that the punched tape moves vertically downward past the punch pins. 

1. An apparatus for the recording of messages on punched tape, and comprising: a first coding disc system for punching said tape with information which is likely to change at certain intervals of time; a second coding disc system for punching said tape with information which is of the repetitive nature; a first driven counter controlling said second coding disc system; and a second driven counter controlling said second coding disc system, said second counter being driven alternately with said first counter.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first coding disc system is provided with means for periodically changing the message to be punched on said tape.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1 and characterized by the fact that said first and said second disc systems are arranged on opposite sides of the punched tape.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 3 and further comprising punch pins which can be acted on by the said coding discs, said punch pins being located on both sides of the punched tape.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 1 and characterized by the fact that the first disc system consists of a rotatably supported selector disc having plates which can be placed on its periphery, the plates being provided with fixed pins or bore holes.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 1 and characterized by the fact that the second disc system consists of two counter discs which are rotatably supported on a common shaft and the peripheral surfaces of which are coded with continuous numbers by pins or boreholes.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 1 and characterized by the fact that the axes of the said discs are parallel to each other and to the surface of the punched tape and are perpendicular to the side edge of the punched tape.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 1 and charactErized by the fact that the punched tape moves vertically downward past the punch pins. 